7/26/2015

So I've had the Publican on my Chicago bucket list for over two years.  I now will be asking myself why why why did it take me so long to go here?  

This place is so cool from the ambiance to the award winning food; you simply cannot lose dining here.  

The dining room is like a hipsters paradise dream apartment/concert venue.  Beautifully decorated from the Edison bulb lighting all the way to the tasteful pig portraits aligning the walls.  

The restaurant is very clean, pristine silverware, and cool glassware.  The center of the restaurant is family seating and surrounded by cool little enclosed booths along the outside.

The food is every bit as spectacular as the restaurants decor.  I started with a side of super thick bacon.  It was like ham, bacon, and the perfect amount of fat congealing into SUPER BACON.  Needless to say my bacon world has forever been changed.  

I then had the fried chicken.  Perfect white moist center and a flavorful crispy crusty outside.  This is what southerners dream about at night.  The fried pickles were a nice accompaniment and the food was plated thoughtfully and masterfully.  

A couple of additional side notes:
The bathrooms are really clean and really nice.  
The fried chicken comes with a side of hot sauce.  Use caution it is for real spicy!
Get a cup of coffee it is specifically blended for the Publican and it is delicious.

Bottom line I highly recommend dining here.  I will definitely be back with family and friends.  5 stars, enough said!

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  Super Thick Bacon!

  Super Thick Bacon!
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  Fried Chicken

  Fried Chicken

7/30/2015

Great food! We ate outdoors in front of the restaurant and the food really delivered! Compliments to all the chefs working their asses off to get food out to all the customers. The staff refilling water and bringing out/cleaning up plates were amazingly attentive and really working hard to keep everyone happy

The waiter service however is another story, this is where I had to throw some stars to the ground.

Our waiter was Antonio and seemed pleasant at the start. After we made our drink request and to start with the charcuterie board while we still looked at the menu, getting his attention was close to impossible. He would ask every table around us how their food was, if they needed anything, then turn and walk away. The times he did walk by, he never made eye contact. It was like I did something personally wrong to him and when it came time to actually order more food, my wife had to flag him down because he acted like we weren't even there. I'm pretty patient when it comes to being busy, but even when I forced eye contact because I wanted another drink, he would turn around and start walking the other way.

Making the customer feel like we did last night was pretty bogus. We were treated like we broke a golden rule of his and he didn't have to attend to our table anymore because of it, even though we don't know what we did wrong. We left discussing how baffled we were on how he acted rather than how delicious the food was.

7/25/2015

Let me be clear: I didn't eat at the Publican. I wanted to, though! I had made a reservation over a week in advance, and was really excited about it, because I've heard such great things. However, I get there to find that the place has been closed off for a private event - they didn't even think to call to let me know? When I had booked over a WEEK in advance? Hell, even a call an hour before the reservation would have been somewhat acceptable. I don't live near by, and it was a hassle to get there during rush hour. Completely unimpressed and extremely disappointed, this is not something I would expect from such a restaurant.

It's a good thing they're located close to other great places to eat; my friend and I just walked over to Girl and the Goat and had dinner there instead. I may give the Publican another try and provide some information on the food, but this experience was super off putting.

7/13/2015

My first visit to The Publican in 2014 for brunch was amazing. If anyone asked me for recommendations, I definitely told them to stop here for brunch. I love their pancake, bacon, chicken dish. The bloodsausage was a comfort dish for me as well.

My second visit in 2015 for dinner is quite the opposite. I dined with a friend and we opted for the chef's menu. Our server asked us if we had any dishes we wanted to try and we chose for them to decide. This was definitely a mistake on our part. I believe it was 6-7 dishes with a dessert. Overall, I couldn't figure out the theme of the dishes they brought out. Some seemed mediterranean inspired while others were not. Also, we didn't bring our appetite so we felt very wasteful! We were visiting, so didn't have a place to store and reheat the food!

I definitely want to give it another chance, this time choosing the items instead!

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• See all photos from Nikkie N. for The Publican

6/23/2015

I had this on my list to try and now I can say been there done that. We were STARVING and wanted to indulge in a sit down restaurant versus the taste of Randolph food fare. We wanted outdoor seating, but after finding out that would take 30 minutes (I totally get it...beautiful day out) we opted to eat inside. Most of the seating was communal which I'm not a fan of.

My friend and I got the French toast and her boyfriend opted for the waffles. LOL...it's not a good sign when my friend took the first bite and said she didn't know if it was done or not. The French toast was a little too mushy for me. Not sure if it had to do with the big block of butter melting into it they had on top. Her boyfriend had the waffles and thought they were just okay. The eggs I ordered on the side were a little bland, so I had to spice them up with some salt and pepper.

The saving grace is knowing I'm a come back because the desserts looked amazing and that's what I care about most. LOL...Will check them out for lunch/dinner in the future.

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  Scrambled Eggs

  Scrambled Eggs
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  French Toast

  French Toast

8/13/2015

Been here a couple of times now for brunch and for dinner!  Brunch was good but the dinner that we had recently was phenomenal!  6 guys and we ordered and ate for 20.  Stupid but oh so good!  We had sweetbread, pork, chicken, snail sausage, eggplant, corn...  all done up in their unique dishes.  Must check their menu out and go eat!

6/18/2015

This was a very highly anticipated brunch visit that I planned well in advance. I had visited Chicago many times, but never got the chance to eat at the Publican. I'll just leave this review with the thousands of others.

You'll notice that while there are tables strewn about the place, it's mostly communal table seating. If you want to request a private table, make sure to do so ahead of time. The decor overall is very homey, and I liked the feel of the large wooden tables and chairs. The waiter was very friendly and attentive, and refills of drinks came pretty regularly.

I ordered the shwarma sausage , which came with mint, sunny-side egg, labneh, pita sections, and muhammara, It was a very nice dish, and the mint and labneh really brought it together. It was pretty much like a deconstructed shwarma sandwich, but it worked well in the bowl. That being said, the side of Publican maple bacon is unreal. It's fatty but not too greasy and just the right amount of chew, so that you don't feel like you're just eating pure fat. The maple syrup on top is very subtle and not too sweet, which perfectly complements the salty richness of the bacon.

Great comfort food, friendly service, and reasonable prices. Can't complain here. I definitely need to come back for the dinner menu on one of my visits back to Chicago.

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  shawarma sausage with a side of Publican bacon

  shawarma sausage with a side of Publican bacon

5/27/2015 Updated review

Has it been nearly five years since I first stepped foot in The Publican? Apparently it has, and it's due time for a review update. My first trip there, as an out-of-towner for a pre-dinner drink, was really eye-opening. Since then, I've often found myself comparing other restaurants to this place--trendy casual, robust beer menu, small plates of goodness, open kitchen, and convivial dining.

The Publican has become a go-to restaurant to bring visitors. It's big, loud, tasty, takes reservations, serves damn good food, and open for an excellent brunch in addition to an excellent dinner, not to mention the pre- or post-meal watering hole. The pig art is surreal. So are the single washrooms, as is sitting in the troughs.

Although I don't have a favorite dish here--unless you could the side of maple-glazed bacon as a dish--anything and everything you order will be tasty. I definitely recommend something something pork (pig art, if you recall). A ham plate or charcuterie for dinner? Yes. Biscuit and gravy with ample chorizo? Also yes. Aforementioned bacon? Ahem, I mean Burton's maple syrup-braised publican bacon? Oh heck yea. Enjoy.

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  cinnamon streusel coffee cake

  cinnamon streusel coffee cake
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  avocado toast, spicy capicola, watercress, fried egg

  avocado toast, spicy capicola, watercress, fried egg
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  spicy pork rinds

  spicy pork rinds
• See all photos from Jeffrey C. for The Publican

5/17/2015 Updated review

Another NRA show in chicago and us in the restaurant business have unleashed our madness.

A year has passed and I've had some fine foods and we still have returned. Boy am I glad.

The oysters were to die for. Yes please.

So was the peas and goat cheese. The Serrano ham.... Now I must stop, for I am having a moment.

My life changed when I had the beef tartare. I was silent. I found some red onion, yellow onion, parsley, and I hit a dead end trying to discern the rest. I am thinking of it now. I want more. I was sad when I finished.

The soft shell crab was absolutely delightful and the chicken liver pate fell short.

Our server justin dropped by and casually left a plate of asparagus on the table, "chef had extra, enjoy". A yummy delight of fat asparagus with sesame seeds laying on a spicy pungent cheese.

Our weight lifting colleague who is happily married to meat and potatoes finally got his chicken dish. I was actually excited to taste it. The plate looked engaging and warm, I did feel bad though, like I would for an abandoned child. I tasted the frites, fatty and dry. I tried to like it. I did.

Then came the wild mushrooms with the roman gnocchi. I was starting to see stars.

So, I was born again when I ate the lamb. The flavor was layered with melodies, that's the best I can come up with. I am still trying o find the words.  Until then, I have a year until my return with the goal of the chefs menu.

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  Das lamb.

  Das lamb.
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  A little piece of heaven in the form of merengue, strawberries, and whip.

  A little piece of heaven in the form of merengue, strawberries, and whip.
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  Chicken dish!

  Chicken dish!
• See all photos from Kaya G. for The Publican

5/14/2015

The hype is real, I've tasted it myself, definitely come here if you have a chance!  I am pretty sure we got lucky, but called 15 minutes before and had no issue getting a reservation for 3 at 10 AM!  We had the option of sitting inside or outside for brunch and opted for outside as it was such a gorgeous day!

We started off with a buttermilk-glazed donut which I didn't appreciate as I am used to more fluffy airy donuts...This one has more of a coffee cake consistency and every bite tasted like a desert in my mouth, I was parched.  Oh, but they also give you the donut hole so yay?  Luckily things quickly improved with our main entrees.

Chicken-fried skate sandwich with bibb lettuce, bread and butter pickles, bacon remoulade and green salad.  The skate was fried to perfection providing a nice crispy bite as you sink your teeth into perfectly cooked and tender skate!  The bun was also perfectly grilled as each bite was buttery and crisp, can you tell I like crunchy things?  Anyways, the seasoning of everything was on point and everything was absolutely delicious from the pickles to remoulade sauce and the green salad!

Peekytoe crab scramble with dill, creme fraiche, pickled shallot and toast...OMG these EGGS were freaking amazing!  Never in my life have I tasted eggs soo freaking delicious, creamy, smooth, and fluffy, you have to try this!  The crab flavor wasn't very strong, more like essence of crab, and I would skip the toast as it was quite charred, but OMG those eggs!  Also, hash browns are a must, these had the perfect crispiness and texture I loved it especially with the ramps! Oh and can't forget Publican bacon, dude these aren't your measly strips of bacon that you find at the grocery store, but instead think chunks of pork belly covered with just the right amount of Burton's maple syrup to balance out the savoriness!

Pork Loin Fettunta-think open faced sandwich/ fancy bruschetta but instead of traditional tomato and basil this one was topped with succulent pork loin, ramps, Parmesan, spinach and fried egg.

Overall, freaking delicious eggs and cute atmosphere; skip the donut but the hash browns and bacon are a must! Oh, and maybe see if you can get less charred bread!  Lastly, I hope y'all are more fortunate to try the pork rinds, sadly the day we went the dehydrator was broken =( but I guess there is always next time!

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  Close up of charredness

  Close up of charredness
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  Hash brown with ramps, which are wild spring onions?

  Hash brown with ramps, which are wild spring onions?
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  Bacon bacon bacon!!! I need more bacon!

  Bacon bacon bacon!!! I need more bacon!
• See all photos from Tiffany L. for The Publican

4/19/2015

I have a love hate sentiment when it comes to Paul Kahan. He is obviously one of the most decorated chefs in America and one of the most elusive and down to earth kinds. He's not some chef asshole who always wants to be on TV though he won James Beard's outstanding chef award. We went to the same college as well so gotta love that. I met and talked to him a couple of times and he's nice guy. I just didn't care for Blackbird a whole lot. However, I really do love his other restaurants -  Avec and The Publican. Love hate.. It is going towards love currently.

I have been to Publican before but I never wrote a review. This last time, we were looking for midnight snacks after getting hammered at The Aviary. Walking down Fulton Market with my drunk friends, we decided to park ourselves for a little bit more at The Publican. I love The Publican compared to BB and Avec because I really didn't feel claustrophobic in there. Ha, Paul.. Finally invested in square footage? I love that I didn't have to eat elbows to assholes with the diners next to me and hearing about his botched colonoscopy. It was fanfreakingtastic. I could still see the communal tables setting are still present but when I dined there, it was fine. They also have these enclosed box booths that are way the opposite of communal as they're super private. I wanted to try that but we had five people and the box only fits four.

The Publican is known for quality meats, and serves many things that the Publican Quality Meats store next door sells. I was too full and drunk to micromanage the ordering and my friend, the birthday boy, seemed to be into seafood tonight. I should have blurted out I wanted some ham, like the fermin serrano. However, what came were dozens of amazing oysters, a plate of fried cheese curds with sausage and fried oysters, shrimp ceviche, and a Tsu Kiji crudo sampler platter. Everything was tasting damn good though I myself was rather full from Aviary's pork rinds. I was too sleepy too and all I wanted was coffee.

When my coffee came, it was the best coffee ever - my fave Intelligentsia. It came in a french press and the coffee aroma permeated through my nostrils and hit every bud of my smell sensory and it made me really happy. It was so strong and good that my friend on the other end of the table smelled it too and asked for a cup. The coffee was thick with fresh ground beans, so strong and so hot and had wished I was talking about a man especially after I poured cream into it. It was one of the best thing I could possibly drink after five or six cocktails earlier that night.

Our server was a sweetheart. He sent us compliment from the chef of fried cauliflowers that were deeeeelicious. He was also so very patient with one of the most drunk friends I had at the table. She kept on saying "excuse me, I wanted some porridge." Each time he came, she asked and he kept on concocted a story that the porridge is cooking and telling her some updates about the progress or what shit happened to delay it. It was pretty comical and he was not in the least pissy though we were an obnoxious table and the last table that prevented them from closing. He was superb and was well endowed with tip at the end.

Yes, so for now, it is love for One Off and Paul Kahan. I always love my Chicago restaurants and it is still the city with one of the best eats. Each time I am in town, I lose one word from my vocabulary - HUNGRY.

Hungry? What's that?!

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  Intelligentsia coffee..

  Intelligentsia coffee..
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  Crudo sampler

  Crudo sampler
• See all photos from Louise M. for The Publican

7/14/2015

If you're walking here, The Publican feels like an oasis of quality in the middle of disused cityspace.  The avant-garde nature of the pricey restaurant in a relatively dead location adds to the mystique.  My friends and I walked south from Milwaukee Ave, so if you Über, you'll be missing out on this experience!

The décor is dim (but not dark) and interesting.  The seating is German-style, so be ready for that.  My friends and I had reservations on a weeknight, and it's a good thing.  Space is at a premium, but we had no problem getting seated or served.  As you might expect, the menu is pricey.  If you wan't more out of the experience (and to feel as if you got your money's worth), peruse the menu beforehand, and spend a few minutes reading up about the meats contained therein.

7/11/2015

Monday Munday was uplifted by a feet-sweeping dinner at the Publican!

I've heard many split reviews and I'm not sure why. Without doubt, this was one of the most fun and adventurous experiences I've had with the Chicago cuisine this year thus far. I can see how one might not fancy blood sausage and beef tongue, but even the most basic entrees were presented with local and quality ingredients that are more than enough to impress a date and/or visitors.

Let's cut to the chase and present to you what our party of deux had: fermin serrano, spicy pork rinds, English peas, black back flounder, and porchetta. That respectively equates to three appetizer-type dishes and two entrees. Did we overdo it? Yes, but worry not, we took the leftovers to go and not a crumb was put to waste.

Of the five, I highly recommend three. The fermin serrano is a rich, wild, Spanish ham with a fair amount of fat. The flavors were bursting when paired with the rye bread and goat cheese based butter. The butter was such a delicacy that I outright said I will eat it by itself. The flounder can be ordered in three sizes: small, medium, and large. Our small was surprisingly big. At approximately one foot long, measuring from the tip of the head to the tail, and perhaps six inches wide, it was more than enough. The server was considerate and helped us filet the fish by removing the bone. It was an impressive entree with the tasso ham, fava bean, green bean, potatoes, and lemon aioli in the ingredient mix. The seasoning were strong without covering the fish itself's natural flavors. But my favorite must go to the porchetta which is essentially five slabs of pork loin made with summer squash and stratiacella. The squash shied away from the sprinkled cheese's blatant presence, but the flavors were well-marinated into the braised pork leaving it especially refined and tender. Likewise, I really enjoyed how each slab had a thin rim of fat clinging to it.

And let's not forget we also had two other items. The spicy pork rinds are great for sharing among a group of four. For two people, we felt compelled to finish it on the spot. Each bite came with a loud crunch because they were so crispy. The crisp would have been foregone if we didn't finish it in one sitting. Therefore, they are very good to snack on but [group] size matters. The English peas were not what we had in mind. It was very tangy and spiced with the heavy usage of cheese, horseradish, and lemon. I felt like we were scooping yogurt even though it was a snack of peas.  

With all that said, a return is perceived. We luckily and effortlessly found parking across the street and service was a high level of excellence. We were not the only ones impressed, seeing as how they had a full house well into the evening on a Monday night. If you didn't catch the hint, that means reservations are highly recommended.

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  Decor

  Decor
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  Spicy pork rinds

  Spicy pork rinds
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  English peas with cheese, horseradish, farro, and lemon

  English peas with cheese, horseradish, farro, and lemon
• See all photos from Jessica M. for The Publican

8/9/2015

Oh my!!!!!! DELICIOUS!!!!!!! We came for Sunday brunch. You have a combination of private enclosed  seating, open communal tables, and standing wait tables.  The atmosphere feels like a large beer hall. The numerous awards include James Beard for design.  I had the light fluffy waffles with the Publican bacon and a bowl of strawberries and blueberries, just delightful. Yummmmy!!!!

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  Jovial atmosphere

  Jovial atmosphere

4/6/2015

You know how some restaurants get so hyped up that you have super high expectations for 'em, and then when you finally dine at said restaurant, you feel let down because your expectations aren't met? Well, that doesn't apply to The Publican, as it definitely lives up to the hype.

Came here for brunch on a Sunday after making reservations the night before. The restaurant was packed (as expected), and we were seated at the communal tables (which I love). My friends and I were starving, so we definitely did not hold back when ordering. We ordered:

-Bloody mary (w/ a Fist City pale ale accompaniment): the bloody mary here definitely packs some heat! It's not as thick or salty as other bloody mary's, so it's different in that sense. The beer accompaniment (your choice) is a nice touch.

-Chef's selection of oysters: fresh and nicely shucked (no pieces of broken shells were in any of the oysters)

-Chicken liver pate: if you're a pate lover, this is a must get. The texture isn't thick like most pate's; it has more of a mousse-y texture, which made it easy to spread and, I think, added to the amazing taste. Very smooth w/ a great, rich taste.

-Frites w/ fried eggs: the fries were good, but nothing mind-blowing. Definitely can skip this side if you're on the fence about it.

-Spicy pork rinds: absolutely fantastic! Crunchy, yet still light and airy. They were dusted w/ a powder that was salty and sour, but delicious (it reminded me of a ranch dressing powder). Highly recommended, especially if you like pork rinds.

-Maple syrup-braised bacon: HEAVEN. I like to think of myself as a bacon connoisseur (I've definitely had my fair share), and I must say that this is one of the best I've ever had (best I've ever had, best I've ever had...shout out to Drake). The bacon is thick, tender, and has an amazingly sweet (but not too sweet) flavor thanks to the maple syrup. This is soooo good that I think my vegetarian friends would convert if they tried it. I'm pretty sure the old school song "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" by the Eurythmics is referring to the bacon at The Publican.

-Pork schnitzel: huge pieces of pork that are crispy and delicious. The aioli is great, too. A very good dish that comes in a big portion, so if you're hungry, definitely get this.

-Smoked sablefish: the fish is soft and buttery. Another phenomenal dish, as the spatzle, snap peas, celery root, creme fraiche and poached egg all work great together w/ the sablefish. Make sure to mix everything up so you get all the yumminess in one bite! The presentation of this dish is beautiful, too.

-Crab scramble: great flavor, and the eggs are scrambled to perfection - soft, fluffy, and not rubbery at all. I prefer my eggs sunny side up or fried, but I would definitely get this dish again.

There's also an extensive beer menu. My friends all agreed that this was a HELLA GOOD meal (excuse my NorCal-ness). The Publican is one of the best restaurants in Chicago, as the 2k+ reviews can attest. I will most definitely be coming back for dinner - and brunch again!

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  Bacon

  Bacon
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  Crab scramble

  Crab scramble
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  Spicy pork rinds

  Spicy pork rinds
• See all photos from Bao L. for The Publican

3/14/2015

None of the food we ate here lasted long enough to get a photo. The first time I went for brunch, I made a reservation while still sitting at the table for the following week to come back again. The thick cut maple syrup covered bacon is still amazing. Get it to share--or not. Crab omelet, pork shoulder, pork belly scrapple, and sourdough waffle have always been perfect. The Bloody Mary is just spicy enough that the beer back feels great going down after. The menu changes enough on a daily or weeklyish basis that I doubt I could ever tire of this place. Unfortunately on one visit here, it seemed like they were out of everything I ordered, both food and drinks. But to me, that's not the fault of the Publican... They're just really popular and deservingly so.

If you make a reservation, you'll likely be seated in a booth with a small door that feels kind of private, and if you just wait for a table you'll probably be at the long communal table right alongside your new friends. There's a standing bar area where you can have drinks while you wait and look over everyone else's shoulders but try not to drool on them (though it will be difficult).

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  Pork shoulder with kimchi and egg... Bacon creepin in the background

  Pork shoulder with kimchi and egg... Bacon creepin in the background

6/22/2015

Wow! I've been wanting to try this place forever, and finally made it. Awesome ambiance, awesome service, and even more awesome food. Every item we ordered was great but I'd definitely recommend the pork belly and/ or farm chicken (fyi get a larger portion with this). If you can come at a random hour you can get a last minute reservation (ie 530 on a Friday). Definitely will return to try the brunch at some point.

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  Farm house mmm!

  Farm house mmm!
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  Pork belly...delish!

  Pork belly...delish!

7/20/2015

I tried to love the Publican, but it wasn't meant to be.

After weeks of hype from my Chicago friends, I was expecting a dining experience with an amazing atmosphere and a "top 5" meal. I was so, so disappointed! Almost everything about the restaurant was underwhelming.

My only compliment to the restaurant is that the valet guy was awesome and thought it was hilarious that I valeted my sh!tty toy-sized rental car.

THE FOOD: I love that the ingredients are consciously sourced, but that's about it. Everything we tried was overseasoned or overcooked. There was no balance to the food or chance to cleanse the palette because every dish was trying to be the star. Maybe we didn't order right, but it would have been nice to have something to break up the onslaught of flavors. Even the veggies we tried were heavy.  I drank at least five full glasses of water during my meal because the food was overwrought.

The farm chicken was expertly cooked to temp (a rarity!), but the vat of grease poured over it ruined the dish. The accompanying sausage was the worst sausage I have ever eaten, and that includes processed garbage served in Lunchables.

THE SERVICE: The service was slooooooow. There is no reason a dinner for three should take 2.5 hours. It's unacceptable to wait 10 minutes to place a drink order or 25 minutes to get a check.  

I went to the bathroom to wash my hands before eating and I had to dodge several employees who wouldn't move out of my way. That sounds elitist and terrible, but the first thing I learned working in restaurants is that it's common courtesy to not hold up people who are paying to dine in your establishment.

THE ATMOSPHERE: Douchey.

They're trying to hard to create a casual environment with farm-syle food! The feeling I got from the Publican is that they think the way everyone eats, socializes, and goes to the bathroom is wrong.... and we should all be thankful they're here to show us the correct way.

I get the family-style service, but the tables were too narrow to fit everything comfortably. I had to move my glass over to the left side of my plate, and the stranger next to me almost drank from it. The menus were way too large to fit on the table, which is ridiculous since the expectation is that you order as you go.

The architect/designer failed the owner miserably in the execution of the concept. Form was favored over function. The glass entry vestibule was beautiful but the hostesses were almost blinded by the sun in the evening. The barn-style booths are claustrophobic. The chairs are cool in concept, but so uncomfortable; I looked around to people either slouching or sitting up rigidly.

And the bathrooms.... are a hot mess. Maybe I'm old school, but I don't want a large unisex bathroom with dim lighting. I want privacy! I get the whole "communal" thing, but the bathroom is too much. The circular trough sink is a creative concept, but the concessions made for that feature are ridiculous. The bathroom mirrors ended up being directly over the toilet, and that's the last place I want break out makeup or eye drops when out for an evening.

The bathroom's communal sink is not handicapped accessible, and neither are the individual stalls at first glance. I asked around, and it seems that two stalls are accessible but neither are marked. Maybe I'm sensitive because I am a designer, but imagine how people who need accessible facilities feel.

6/10/2015

For a fun night out with a good friend and my girlfriend, I chose The Publican! We had reservations from OpenTable so it was a easy walk in to our booth, which was very chic. This place is meant for a good time and is extremely inviting. The drink list was extensive, and I did like that they supported local breweries.

We ordered a selection of oysters, a gem salad, pork rinds, a fish dish, and a pork dish. With three shareable appetizers and two main dishes, this was more than enough. The oysters were selected from different regions of the US, so it was nice to taste the difference from Washington and Seattle, for instance. It's a nice talking point and got us to try tasting the nuances of the regions. Gem salad was crisp and delightful, and the pork rinds were excellent. The pork dish didn't really stand out - albeit very tasty. The best dish of the night was the fish, which tasted very fresh with a lot of bold flavors. The menu changes regularly depending on season and freshness, which is a very strong selling point of this restaurant. I highly recommend coming here with a small group of people for a great time in the West Loop!

6/9/2015

Great atmosphere inside.  I enjoyed the aesthetic of the wood tables and rustic feel.  It gave a vibe very similar to the restaurant's inspiration of European farmhouse food in a beer hall.

My friends and I came here for Sunday brunch after a birthday party.  I am a huge fan of duck (well..used to be...now I'm vegetarian) and once I read the Duck Confit al Pastor on the menu my mind was set.  It looked so enticing that all of my friends ordered it as well and we had four dishes brought to the table.  We also had capuccino's with our brunch.

The service was great and the price wasn't too bad for being downtown.  Definitely check it out!

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  Duck Confit Al Pastor Pasilla, potato, red kuri squash, salsa verde & fried egg $15.00

  Duck Confit Al Pastor Pasilla, potato, red kuri squash, salsa verde & fried egg $15.00

6/9/2015 Updated review

Having only brunched at The Publican I was excited to have dinner here. Upon arriving they escorted our group over to the standing bar area until our table was ready. There we had the opportunity to order drinks, oysters, and clams. I recommend getting the beer flight so you can try their local selection of the day. I am not really an oyster or a clam person, but seeing as it is part of the experience I picked a region I recognized to order an oyster from and threw it back when it arrived; It will be a taste I learn to acquire I'm sure, but for now it tasted like the ocean, fun nonetheless.

We were then brought to our table; we were a group of four so got a closed in booth with parlor doors. If you have two or three people you will probably be seated at the long shared table so be prepared for this. The menu is extensive and though it provides great vegetable options, it is definitely a meat lovers restaurant. Plus everything is meant to be shared so don't bring your vegan friend.

The food:

The Bread Plate- their bread is famous and sold around the city, don't skip it while you can get it hot
The Charcuterie Board- a great way to try a variety of meats and jams, could be skipped if you don't have a huge group
Sugar Snap Peas- my favorite dish of the night, the freshest ingredients served over their bread (serves 3)
Brocollini- a unique veggie dish in that it incorporates a warm goat cheese
Fallafel- delicious and a perfect green on the inside
Squid in Fregola- great flavors but if you want a seafood focused dish the squid definitely gets lost in here
Short Rib- this is not your falling off the bone short rib that I was expecting, it is more of a steak. Though flavorful I was disappointed because of what I was expecting.
Suckling Lamb- This dish was my favorite meat dish. It had two parts of the lamb served in one dish that was perfectly sweet. One was on the bone and one was falling off the bone as easily as I'd wished the short rib had. Everything about it was perfect and it was in a great slaw.
Farm Lamb- This is what they are most famous for and rightfully so, it's delicious. You can even buy all the ingredients to (try and) cook it yourself at PQM. The oil beneath it that the fries are swimming in are unreal. I would recommend just getting the half chicken because it will allow you to try more things, or get the whole because the leftovers stayed well!

Overall, The Publican is the perfect spot for brunch or dinner. Make sure you make your reservation well in advance as everyone else seems to have caught onto this as well!

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  Brocollini

  Brocollini
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  Charcuterie

  Charcuterie

6/27/2015

We experienced both brunch and dinner. Their brunch menu changes daily. We had the green chili sausage dish that came with black beans, corn bread and egg to top it off. Can't remember the name of it, but it was very good. However, it was overshadowed by the chicken fried skate sandwich.  Let's just say it was 1000x better than the filet o' fish at McDonald's. Lol. Light and flaky and scrumptious. The hash browns were pretty good; crispy and delicious.

Dinner: we had frites with egg, bbq carrots, country ribs and a delicious fish dish that we can't remember the name of. It was buttery good! The ribs had a yummy charred flavor. The fish was by far our favorite. The carrots were alright. We didn't finish them.

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  Country ribs

  Country ribs
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  Delicious fish dish

  Delicious fish dish
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  BBQ carrots

  BBQ carrots
• See all photos from Jassu J. for The Publican

5/26/2015

Sometimes you walk in a place and you already know you're going to love it and have a great time. That's exactly what happened here. This was the # one place my brother wanted to bring me to on my most recent visit to Chicago. Everything was awesome. For food, we ordered oysters (fresh and tasty), their spicy pork rinds (get them), chacuterie (head cheese was my favorite and the rhubarb jam, soo good!), Artichoke Falafel (great), Soft Shell Crab (so freaking good!!), Lamb (perfectly crisp exterior with perfectly juicy melt in your mouth inside; the lentils were awesome too), we also got a taste of their pork tenderloin wrapped in pork belly which was tasty, especially the slightly burnt parts of the pork belly. Their amaro barrel aged negroni is the best negroni I"ve ever had and I've had a fair amount of negronis. I also got their Last Word cocktail which was not on the menu. It normally comes with gin, but on our server's suggestion I got it with mezcal. It also had chartruese, luxardo, and lime. It was excellent. They also have a great list of beer (both bottled and on draft) and wine and many variety of spirits to choose from. We also got their chocolate custard and napoleon desserts. Both were excellent finishers and beautifully presented.

An absolute highlight is the service top to bottom. They truly care and do everything possible to ensure you have a memorable time. Tracy, one of the managers I think, is easily one of the most warm and thoughtful people I've come across in a restaurant. Matt, the bar manager, is equally as awesome. Our server David, plus Hector and Carlos were great too. The day we came for dinner also happened to be the final day of the National Restaurant Association Show. As a result, they were packed. I imagine they are normally packed, but on prime days/nights, not on a Monday. As packed as they were, they were hustling and service was exceptional. Aside from the huge paintings of, well, huge pigs which were somehow cool and cute, the decor is pretty plan. It felt kind of like a super beige beer hall to me. It works though and I literally loved everything about this place.

Simply put, service was outstanding, food creative and delicious, and cocktails fantastic. Not much more can be said other than I wish I could take this restaurant with me everywhere. If I still lived in Chicago, I'd be here, a lot and definitely will make it a staple stop every time I'm back in town.

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  Awesome Soft Shell Crab

  Awesome Soft Shell Crab
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  Amazing Lamb

  Amazing Lamb
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  Chacuterie plate

  Chacuterie plate
• See all photos from Darren B. for The Publican

4/6/2015

My husband, friend, and I came here for brunch on Saturday. We made reservations so we got a nice booth table. It's really cute where the booth has doors..as if it was a house. The atmosphere is pretty cool - tall ceilings and they  have communal tables in the middle. The chairs and doors are tall - you must be tall in order to serve here (haha) otherwise your reach may be a little hard.

Onto the food, we started with three types of oysters. We like one of them but the other two we had were a little below average. I had the pork schnitzel entree which was okay. Presentation looks good. My dish was mainly fried batter..and a thin slice of pork inside. It came with potatoes and beans. My husband had their baked egg dish which came with lamb, chick peas, and fennel? It came in a nice le cruset baking dish. He didn't seem to enjoy his dish as much. My friend had their open face proscuitto sandwich. Not sure if she enjoyed it..she didnt say much. We shared the frites with eggs. It's literally just crunchy french fries with a fried egg on top. Boring.

We were able to stick around and chat for a bit. I like the atmosphere. Staff was friendly. Wish food was a little better. Maybe I'll come back for dinner since I hear the dinner menu is better.

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  Frites and eggs

  Frites and eggs
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  Pork schnitzel

  Pork schnitzel

2/26/2015

My boyfriend and I came here for Valentine's Day brunch and I think we were just expecting too much because we came out of the Publican sorely disappointing, thinking that we would have been better off cooking brunch ourselves.

The Publican is one of those names you hear a lot in the Chicago food scene and I was excited to have the chance to dine here after making a reservation way early in advance. The decor has a rustic feel to it and kind of a weird set up. There are communal long tables in the middle and side tables that are penned off. Kind of felt like I was an animal in a barn... anyone else?

With recommendations from the waitress, my boyfriend ordered the Mexican Chocolate French Toast and I got the Breakfast Pote. His French Toast was burnt... seriously?? The chocolate was a little too sweet for his liking, but overall it was a sub-par dish for the price. I thought the breakfast pote was really strange. Lots of root vegetables in this liquidy broth that made my toast soggy... I would NOT recommend this dish to anyone :(

We must have ordered wrong, but unfortunately our taste buds were not titillated by what the Publican had to offer and I was sad that my boyfriend, who was visiting out of town, had to waste one of his meals in Chicago with this experience.

I don't think there will be another time, but to each their own for all the fans of the Publican!

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  Mexican chocolate French toast, ended up being burnt

  Mexican chocolate French toast, ended up being burnt
• 

  Breakfast pote. I did not like the root vegetables and the liquidy broth made my toast soggy :(

  Breakfast pote. I did not like the root vegetables and the liquidy broth made my toast soggy :(

6/16/2015 Updated review

Dinner is great. Farm chicken was awesome. And liver pate was even more awesome.

Also got the charcuterie plate which was great variety.

5/24/2015

People can not shut up about this place for good reason. Went here on a Saturday morning (as soon as they opened to be exact) because that was the only time they had reservations available. Cause it's amazingly popular.

Starter: Chef selection oysters. Delicious. I'm no expert on oysters, but my guess would be that I would know if I had some bad oysters and these were anything but. They tasted fresh and my mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Entrees:
- I had some prosciutto dish that I can't recall the name. It was sitting on a perfectly toasted bread and topped with alfalfa sprouts that made it smell like it fresh from the garden. I think my favorite part of the dish (and most dishes I have eaten throughout my life) is the two perfectly fried eggs on top. I'm not going to lie, glancing around, it's like they put eggs on just about everything. AND I LOVE IT.
- My hot date had the dry aged sirloin. I had a sample and it was pretty delicious. I just have to say, I have never heard so many yummy noises come out of another human being in my life. The plate was pretty much licked clean. I would write more about it, but it wasn't my own personal first hand experience.

Service: Pretty good.
Decor: reminds of me a school for some reason. the chairs have a spot for you to put your textbooks and school supplies. I would also like to comment that this place has the most ornate cutlery I have ever seen.

WILL BE BACK.

5/31/2015

To clarify if I was footing the bill I'm not sure this would make 5-star territory in terms of my own Yelp rating system weighed heavily on value.  But as I was a guest then I didn't see the actual bill, so all I remember is culinary awesomeness.

Walking in there on a weekday evening with 8 people seemed like a bit of a gamble but we scored the last spot big enough to hold our group. We even had a buffer zone was the adjacent group left almost as soon as we got situated.  The large communal seating was interesting and didn't seem to retract from the dining experience at all.

Everyone scanned the menus for a bit as we ordered a few large bottles of beer to share, and then opted to just 'order an bunch of stuff'.  Everything was excellent, from the veggie sides to the fish and meat entrees

The bread and cheese plate went well with the various beers and once the food started coming it seemed to never stop: pickles, beets, ham, pork ribs, fish.  I was happy to learn that most of the group did not like beets so I monopolized that dish, was wonderful.

I recall the original plan was to visit Haymarket afterwards but after all that food it was time to visit unconsciousness in bed.  Beside their beer selection was excellent and one of our group who is really into saisons and farmhouse beers was in love.

1/19/2015

Been meaning to come to the Publican for a long time and I finally went there today for brunch. After dining here , I truly don't really see what all the hype is about.

What I had:

Drink
* Publican Mimosa is definitely worth a try as it's a mix of beer and OJ so a nice twist on the normal mimosa.

Food
* Publican Bacon is good and flavorful, even the fat. I'd recommend trying the bacon as an appetizer or a side for your meal.

* Oven-baked Sourdough Pancake is good, as it's stuffed with bacon wrapped chicken thigh and sausage. I would have liked this dish more than I did if it came without sausage. To me the sausage just didn't taste like it was fully cooked. The bacon wrapped chicken thigh was really good mixed with the pancake and maple syrup.

My friend who has been to the Publican multiple times said that dinner is much better than the brunch so I guess I need to go back and experience dinner.

• 
• 

  Oven-baked Sourdough Pancake (bacon-wrapped chicken thigh, breakfast sausage & Burton's maple syrup)

  Oven-baked Sourdough Pancake (bacon-wrapped chicken thigh, breakfast sausage & Burton's maple syrup)
• 

  Publican Bacon (Burton's Maple Syrup- Braised)

  Publican Bacon (Burton's Maple Syrup- Braised)
• See all photos from Norm J. for The Publican

1/27/2015

My buddy and I went here for breakfast, but thinking about it, maybe we should have tried this place out for lunch instead? I could have just expected too much from this place? I am willing to give this place another shot on my next visit to Chicago, so, don't crucify me just yet for the "below than stellar" rating.

I ordered the pork belly scrapple which is constructed of rhubarb mostarda, sourdough and sunny side up eggs. I must say, it was nicely porky, and the rhubarb mostarda gave it a slight sweetness to it, but then the yolk from the eggs lovingly engulf each bite with joy. I just wished that possibly the scrapple was a bit more crispier(?), possible?

I shall try you again Publican and your sister across the street. Until we meet again, I will be counting the days.

• 

  My Scrapple

  My Scrapple
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  Publican Thick Cut Bacon

  Publican Thick Cut Bacon

7/19/2015

It's just not for me. I'm sure it's perfect for others. For starters, nearly everything is small plates and designed to be shared. It's also really expensive for those small plates. You end up trying a lot of things, sharing a lot of things, but leaving hungry. For what they charge, that shouldn't happen.

8/10/2015

I've heard of the Publican before, but never had a chance to visit due my hectic schedule. My company treated us to this establishment and we were not disappointed. The farm chicken, mackerel, sirloin were top notch. We did not expect the complexity of taste to come from these basic proteins. The ham chop was the real star though. It was unlike any pork dish I've ever tasted. I love pork so I eat it all the time but this was something special. I would describe it more like a perfectly roasted pork rib roast with the very special smokey sweet ham flavor combined with the richness of Filipino lechon on top of creamy polenta. It must be tasted to understand what I'm failing to describe.

5/19/2015

On a recent trip to Chicago my friend took us here.  She told us they specialized in oysters, beer and pork - what's not to like.  Our flight was delayed and luckily they let us move our reservation back.  The environment is super cute with standing tables by the bar, communal large tables and where we sat contained booths.  It was very nice as it felt very intimate.

There were 4 of us, we started with a variety of oysters, which were delicious and a great way to star the meal.  We ordered several beers, they do have an insane selection.  I had 2 through the night and would come back here just for the beer list.  We then ordered bread and butter, but we never got it.  

We then had crudo, I don't remember what fish it was, but it was great with a little citrus, it was simple and clean.  Next we had the ham selection.  They were good, very solid, but it would have been better with some additional condiments and more bread.  It is a lot of ham.  

We then had the cauliflower and sirloin.  Both to me were pretty standard, nothing spectacular.  We then shared the waffle and sorbet.  Both were very good desserts, not too sweet but still decadent.

Overall, for this level of restaurant I thought the prices were pretty reasonable.   Service in the bar was great, but at our table was just okay.

4/21/2015

Stop reading. Just go.

Doesn't matter the time.
Brunch, lunch, dinner--it's all good.

Their menu is always changing so I can't quite remember what I've ordered before for dinner, but seriously can't go wrong. As for brunch I ordered the red wine pouched eggs, and holy sh*t yes.

I've been there on numerous occasions for dinner, most recently I went with a party of 8 and we all circled 2-3 items we wanted on the menu and tried a little of everything.
Dessert-wise--the waffle. You guys--The. Waffle. I didn't order it because it seemed so simple, but my cousin got it and I just basically ate hers up and made no apologies. Be sure to get it with a scoop or 4 of the maple sugar ice cream.

I TOLD YOU TO STOP READING. Go now!

7/19/2015 Updated review

Once again Publican For the Win!
Brunch was amazing; including the delicious off the menu vegan dish that the chef prepared for my vegan dining companion.  The server didn't even flinch when we made a request for the vegan options.  
The top notch customer service and supreme consistency at this restaurant should set a standard for the industry.

7/21/2015

Great, great brunch service.  Lots of classic dishes that have been elevated by clever chefs and the menu changes frequently.  Very friendly and prompt service and they go out of their way to make you feel at home.  One of the first spots that I always take people visiting and a mainstay in my brunch routine.

Not a huge fan of the community seating but it does help them move more people though the restaurant.

6/22/2015

Atmosphere is like a German beer hall: loud and welcoming, with communal tables. The place fills up fast on weekends--bf and I nabbed a 7:30 reservation on a Friday night. I'd recommend getting a reservation for groups over 4.

The food is top-notch--make sure to get at least a couple of veggie dishes--these are well executed and delicious. Here's a breakdown:

-Serrano ham: My palate isn't super-defined, so to me it was basically just slices of yummy cured meat. Definitely not bad, but compared to the other dishes, this didn't stand out.
-BBQ carrots: Mopped up the tasty dill and herb dressing using all the leftover bread from the serrano ham plate. Carrots had a nice char on them and had the perfect soft-crunch balance. This dish was so damn delicious.
-English peas with burrata: The sauce was so good for this! Horseradish, fresh basil, who could ask for more? The peas were super-fresh, too. I could eat this every day forever.
-Andouille sausage: Yasss yum. It had a great mix of spices, the sausage had a great "snap" to it, and the cucumber-dill-cream topping balanced out the spiciness.
-Beef tongue: BF said it was too rich, but I heartily disagree. This was an amazing mix of delectable seared beef tongue and cherries, topped with some sort of fresh herb mixture, all on top of a crusty piece of toast. I had to stop myself from going HAM and eating the whole thing at dinner. So I ate the rest of it for breakfast the next morning; best breakfast ever.

The service was great--the servers were very attentive--my water glass never got to be half-empty! I think at one point we even had two servers...? Beer list is extensive, but pricey.

Food and service is definitely 5 stars, but the loudness was enough that it's more of a 4.5 star review.

5/5/2015

The Publican doesn't disappoint. The hubby and our friends dined outside on what was a beautiful and warm Saturday evening. We split all of the dishes and all were great- scallops, trio sashimi, beef heart tartare, potted rillettes, fried cauliflower, etc.

Service was great. Very attentive and made sure that we had clean plates each time. We also got wonderful cocktail recommendations. My only issue is that it is a tad pricey for the size of the dishes. But otherwise, a great restaurant with high quality food.

7/25/2015

Ok so over 2000 reviews, need I bother YES!
I loved it was Amazing, the service the decor the ambience I could still cry!

Love Publican!

3/30/2015 Updated review

Just another 5 star update for The Publican gone VEGAN...I've had brunch a couple times in the past couple months. Kitchen custom created dishes both times (THANK YOU TO THE AWESOME STAFF) and did NOT disappoint. Sunday I had the avocado toast veganized and pumped up (original had a fried egg, cheese & meat) so they just threw on all kinds of amazing treatments of vegetables, favas, arugula & other tasty bites. On a seriously thick, hearty delicious, full of grains and seeds crusty bread situation.

Prior to that on another brunch visit, our lovely server brought an extra dish as I couldn't decide which one to try and it was phenomenal as well. A mashup of kale, chickpeas, avocado, tomatoes & some amazingly flavorful sauce. Plus grilled naan.

Don't be afraid to hit up the publican if you are vegan, plant based, vegetarian or just like vegetables! They elevate & really treat vegetables RIGHT and don't make you feel like the world's biggest pain in the ass.

10/27/2014

Everything here was just so on point.

We came here for brunch at around 10:30 AM, right off of our flight to Chicago and were absolutely famished.  The space was large with high ceilings, and had a really casual, welcoming feel to it.  There was no wait at this hour, so we dove right into the menu.  We ordered:

1) Chicken liver pâté with strawberry jam - this was so delicious and came in a humongous portion.  Maybe I've just become immune to NYC prices, but I was shocked at the amount we got for $8.  The chicken liver was a ball about as big as a 1.5 ice cream scoops, there was a generous amount of jam, and the bread was toasted perfectly!  We got a second serving of bread too at no additional charge.

2) Lobster scramble - eggs and lobster, so there is nothing not to like here.  It came with generous chunks of lobster, and overall was a good sized portion.

3) Smoked whitefish flatbread - this was something we wouldn't normally have thought of ordering, but we asked the waiter to surprise us and he brought this out.  The whitefish was super tender, and the yogurt dressing made this dish a great refreshing and light choice.

Service was wonderful too!  Our waiter was so attentive and everything came out quickly.  I will definitely be coming back if I find myself in Chicago again!

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  Lobster scramble

  Lobster scramble
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  Chicken liver with jam and toast

  Chicken liver with jam and toast

11/3/2014

Best food memory in Chicago: the Roasted Chicken and Frites at the Publican. That right there should be enough of a review for you to go try this place out. But, as a service to the Yelpers, I'll elaborate.

First off, the lighting and ambiance here are so perfect for a casual night out with your significant other....or with three of your best bros! (*raising the roof*) I also want to mention, the nicest public restroom I've ever used.

The food here is served family-tapas style, so order to share. To avoid turning this review into an essay, I'll go ahead and share with you just my favorite dishes of the night with a short blurb on why it was amazing.

Oysters: By far, without exaggeration, the freshest oysters I've ever had. We only ordered 6 for the table, but man I wish we could have ordered 5 dozen more. The garlic vinaigrette they provide makes me wonder why I've used lemon and Tabasco for all these years. Tip: the oysters from Massachusetts were the largest.

Barbecued carrots: Dare I say that dill and roasted carrots may be a better combination then bananas and peanut butter. Absolutely amazing stuff and kind of a flavor-trip.

Roasted Chicken and Frites: Downright, the best roasted chicken and frites I've ever had. The chicken is unbelievably moist and jam packed with flavor. The frites tastes like they were fried in the most glorious of duck fats; Not to mention how amazing they are after sitting in the chicken juices and still retaining their firm texture. I would say go for the full order if you have 3~4 in your group.

Just an amazing meal overall and one of the best food experiences I've ever had. Make a reservation early as the restaurant does get busy during peak hours.

• 

  Full roasted chicken. Its amazing.

  Full roasted chicken. Its amazing.
• 
• 
• See all photos from Brian C. for The Publican

3/21/2015

My group of Chicagoan friends have raved about this restaurant for years. I wanted badly to love this restaurant. Unfortunately, I was far from being in love with The Publican. In the last few years, Americans have become obsessed with this fancy, but non-pretentious gastropub style cuisine and atmosphere, including myself.

Not the smartest choice for a large group of 10, but one of the few more elevated and not over-the-top priced restaurants in the area that could supposedly accommodate a larger group with reservations. They told me in advance (and reminded me again the night of our arrival...In front of my friends, nonetheless) the strict requirement that our large group needed to leave within two hours.

Communal style seating is fine with a large group. If you are not opposed to small talk banter and the inability to have an intimate conversation without being overheard, than you won't be bothered by the mess hall seating arrangement. My friend goes every eight weeks with her partner and they request to sit by the kitchen/oyster bar area, which is more cozy and 'private'.

The food was hit or miss, but I do like that the menu changes every eight weeks. The brussels sprout salad was refreshing and had a nice flavor profile. The duck was good, but we didn't care for the way it was served. The seafood crudo did not fit the price tag. I understand its from Tsukiji Fish Market, the most famous fish market in the world, but $18.00 for three measly Starburst candy-sized bites?!

One would think if they needed to dismiss us within two hours, there would have been a more simplistic way to split the bill. No, they wouldn't split it. It was a lengthy ordeal that did not need to be.

Bottom line: The Publican is not on my list of gastropubs to obsess over. If you crave this kind of energy and food, no need to worry, there are plenty of other gastropub gems in Chicago.

6/14/2015

Disclaimer: I am not a foodie. Just your average Joe going to get a meal. So if you have a very refined palate or whatever than just ignore this review. I'm writing from a regular guys point of view.

What a waste of money. Horrible service. Unappetizing food. As many reviewers said the coffee was really amazing.

Went here for brunch. The potatoes were purple which kind of threw me off. But everything was served in a bowl which would be fine but everything kind of congealed together bc it took the server 45 minutes to get us the food. The eggs were chewy and not very fluffy. I should've taken pictures.

Also Just a warning that I t's one of those places that gives you very little portions I guess you're supposed to savor. Some of it was really good (the parts that didn't get stuck to my bowl) but the majority of the food did not fill me up.

Highly discourage you from going here unless you're a foodie. Which it appears that most other reviewers are.

4/19/2015

Went for brunch with my boyfriend's family on a Sunday. We were seated in one of the little booths that close up. We loved it but some people may find it too cramped. We had a variety of dishes and all shared. I enjoyed everything.

It is something unique and delicious and I'd go back. If you are looking for basic eggs, bacon and hash browns, this place is not for you.

7/13/2015

The oysters here are to die for! We got the Chef's Selection and I've never had fresher oysters in my life. We ordered the Chicken Liver Pate, Pork Rinds, Breakfast Sausage, Publican Bacon, and Smoked Pork Loin and was disappointed with any item. Only complaint is that if you come in a group of 2 that they sit you at the community table which wasn't a big deal since we made reservations when they opened. I was very pleased with the Chicken Liver Pate as they give you a huge dollop to eat with your toast. Too bad I live so far away :P

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  Chile pork sausage

  Chile pork sausage
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  Pork rinds

  Pork rinds
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  Publican bacon and breakfast sausage

  Publican bacon and breakfast sausage
• See all photos from Kendall N. for The Publican

3/12/2015

When I'd asked friends for their dining recommendations for our weekend trip to Chicago, the most suggested venue was none other than The Publican. The restaurant is one of many successful ventures by Paul Kahan, a seemingly modest tribute to "beer, pork and oysters". The space is an eclectic amalgamation, part European beer hall and part farmhouse-tavern, thanks to its lengthy communal tables, the wooden, high-ceilinged architecture, and the ever-clamorous atmosphere.

Although we'd easily made reservations in advance for that Saturday morning, some last minute confusion caused us to cancel them, even though we eventually wound up arriving for the meal that we'd initially planned for. Thankfully, the hostess was able to offer us seats at the bar, which actually wound up being more of a kitchen counter; I couldn't complain about the chance to see the staff in action, as dishes were continuously expedited throughout our meal.

While I typically go for savory plates for my weekend meals, I couldn't help but order the Brioche French Toast. It was an impressive plate, consisting of two generous slices of french toast, drizzled with a whiskey-infused apple syrup, pecan butter, and whipped marscapone, with the much-needed dusting of confectioner's sugar. The texture of the bread was spot-on, featuring a soft, slightly moist center with a well-crisped, almost caramelized crust. It wasn't overly sweet, and the additional elements worked in tandem together, with the marscapone contributing a much-needed lightness to each bite. I was able to try a few bites of the Pork Schniztel, which had a hearty portion of lightly breaded pork loin paired with two fried eggs, fingerling potatoes, and an appreciative dab of mustard. It's the kind of hearty, filling food you'd crave after a night of too much drinking, although it's delicious even when in a sober state of mind.

Unfortunately, I probably won't get a chance to return to The Publican for a second meal, but I wouldn't doubt the strength of their dinner options. The venue is perfect for almost any occasion, from a weekend brunch, to a late night pick-me-up, and the food offered is unpretentious, reasonably priced, and well executed. Try to plan a visit in advance as the space does fill up, but even so, a little bit of waiting is certainly worth it.

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  Pork Schnitzel

  Pork Schnitzel
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  French Toast

  French Toast
• 

  French Toast

  French Toast
• See all photos from Lori L. for The Publican

6/14/2015 Updated review

Great place to share with a big group. Nice beer selection, food is fresh, rustic, and well prepared. Would go back for the food.

Then there's the service.  Pretty poor. Had to constantly look for our server. Was so slow we skipped dessert. The bartender actually broke a glass on my wife, he didn't even notice. When she told him he didn't even appologize, unacceptable.

I'll return when they spend some time on training their service staff.

Kitchen keep it up!!

4/14/2015

Pork! It's everywhere you look at The Publican, and that's fine by me.

The Publican is a great little place, laid out like a German beer hall with a large, U-shaped communal table in the middle of the room and booths with saloon doors along the outside edge. I was a little butthurt that we got sat in the communal section instead of those awesome booths but we got a corner seat so my chapped ass was soon soothed.

The beer list is almost a mile long, as is the wine list (gross, beer or GTFO). They do have a few cocktails available and boy, are they strong. Not as strong as their pork game though; we got a full charcuterie, the Taste of Three Hams (they should really name a Festivus Feat of Strength after this), and the pork belly. My God. Worth it. I am so sorry, little piggies.

We also shared the Bananas Foster-esque mille feuille (what dreams are made of) and the chocolate custard (good, but not great). Tab came out to about $140 including tax and tip. Worth emptying our piggy banks for.

4/14/2015

We started off our Chicago weekend with brunch at Publican. It was very easy to make last minute reservations via OpenTable.

I couldn't resist ordering the bibimbap, something I've never seen on an American brunch menu. It was delectable with every bite so flavorful and delicious. I didn't tire of it even though the dish was on the heavier side.

He got the steak & eggs, which it seemed like he enjoyed. I had some steak, but was way too preoccupied with my bibimbap to remember how it tasted. We also shared the side of bacon, which was too overly sweet for us.

I was really impressed by the coffee and wish they sold their special blend! Regrettably, their brunch menu is much more limited than their dinner menu, so I'd recommend coming for dinner if you'd like to try a variety of dishes.

9/24/2014

The Publican is a wonderful restaurant that describes itself as an homage to beer, pork and oysters.

This is really my kind of restaurant. From the wide open dining space and kitchen down to the extensive and sometime obscure Craft Beer menu, everything about The Publican drips with Chicago chic. I will admit that the service can feel a bit stuffy and gruff at times, but the kitchen well outshines any service related gripes I would have.

The menu is quartered and it is clear as day that the team in the kitchen is serious about seafood. Fresh Fish, Bi-Valves, Farmed Clams and even Trout can be found along with familiar Pork and Red Meat selections and even some surprises (Beef Heart Tartare, anyone?).  

Our table of four was thankfully full of culinary adventurers and we decided to order numerous plates and share the flavors tapas style. This is definitely the way to roll as you get a great idea of exactly how expansive and creative The Publican's Chef team really is. Table favorites include Spinach Boudin Blanc, Sirloin, Suckling Pig, and the Country Ribs. As for seafood the Suzuki Bass Crudo really shines and their ludicrously fresh Albacore rivals some of ours here in California. I nearly forgot to give a nod to the Oysters (Island Point) and Razor Clams.

There was not a single flavor I didn't adore and although the Chicagoans we dined with sneered at some of the plates costs, it was pretty much what I would expect to pay for fare of this caliber home in Orange County/Los Angeles at say, Animal or Sun of a Gun. Not a direct comparison of restaurants, but you can make out numerous similarities of concept, price point and creative style.

The Publican is truly a great Chicago restaurant and I long for a return visit.

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  The Publican.

  The Publican.

5/30/2015

It was love at first sight.  This super trendy, edgy place is a show stopper.  First of the the communal dining is very cool.  They also have really fun standing pub tables that people can hang out by (if they just want to have a drink) and super neat booths that have salon like doors (which sort of makes the seating seem private).  I will say the place is "loud", which may not prove to be ideal if your planning on drinking a lot the night before.  

We have been here twice and both times it was for breakfast/brunch on the weekend.  The place is crazy busy so I suggest you make reservations (which we did)!  

First time my husband had a kimchi egg hash, with a side of bacon(pork belly), and I had French toast.  My husbands dish was an explosion of flavor and textures.  Mine was a delicious sweet treat to start the day.  Both were exceptional!

Second visit I decided to start with libations so we had mimosas(which was a little bitter) the oranges must not have been properly ripened, being from Florida this is something we know about.  We ate biscuits and gravy, duck hash, avacado scramble, a side of bacon and a side of hash browns.  Everyone was super impressed with the diverse flavors in there dishes.  

I will say this place is so trendy that you almost feel like you are not "cool" enough to be here.  Our waitress sort of seemed grumpy and annoyed with us on our second visit.  I won't hold it against the publican though!  Super fun spot!!!!

7/15/2015

I'm a big fan of all things charcuterie
They have amazing sandwiches that cannot be missed for lunch.

3/21/2015 Updated review

After coming here during the summer, I had to taste see what they had in store for the winter menu. I was not disappointed. Having already tried their cold cuts and breads, we went straight for the meats/fishes and we were not disappointed.

Recommended:
Pinkerton avocado - get it.  I was really surprised by the mixture of the saltiness of the trout roe with the texture of the sweet walnuts and soft avocado.  

Duck breast - just as before, tender and braised in a sweet wine sauce.  The crispy skin just adds more juice to the already succulent duck.

Dover sole - whole sole with a nice melody rub of spices and salts with

Bread pudding - warm, homey and delicious. It is topped with a nice piece of ice cream.  It is big enough to SHARE!!! (or you can order one and box it up for yourself :) )
If you like BBQ flavor - BBQ carrots were surprisingly good!  They have a bit of spice but if you don't like BBQ sauce flavor, skip it.

Good but I would try something else:
Sturgeon- grilled and prepared nicely but it was lacking flavor

Suckling pig - a bit too salty.  The melody of vegetables in cherry vinaigrette was good but didn't really compensate for the saltiness of the pork.

Skip:
Yellow tail - eh i've had fresher. They claimed it was from tsukiji fish market.  Wasn't that good for 18$
Pumpkin cake - skip - nothing special

All and all, Publican impressed me more than my last visit.  I will be back again in the future.

11/9/2014

This is the most memorable breakfast I have had, and one of the best meals overall. Got an Open Table reservation for a Sunday morning at 9am so snagged a nice seat on the patio outside. Service was efficient and friendly, but then the food blew my mind.

There were so many delicious sounding options I had a hard time choosing, but opted for the publican bacon -- a huge quantity of crispy and salty and sweet pork belly -- and the tasso smoked pork shoulder. But it was oh so much more than just pork shoulder. The pork was served on top of farro, with a complement of kimchi, fermented chili, argula, and egg yolk. It was a masterful combination of flavors (salty, spicy, acidic, bitter) and textures (crispy, soft, creamy). I was not only full after eating it, I was totally satisfied.

I can't wait to go back!!!!

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  Breakfast menu from September 2014

  Breakfast menu from September 2014
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  Pork belly and sourdough pancacke

  Pork belly and sourdough pancacke
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  Pork shoulder over farro with kimchi and egg yolk.

  Pork shoulder over farro with kimchi and egg yolk.

6/11/2015

LOVE the oysters and ambiance here....I like the vibe and energy and the beer selection is perfect as well. On second thought... I need to go back here. It's been awhile.

2/18/2015

This is a "hep cat" hipster joint where everything is as trendy as possible.

A lot of thought was put into the decor to make it a fusion of shabby-chic and bavarian golden age.

It's loud and crowded, and beards/mustaches abound.

The meals are all fried meat-based. There is pork in just about every meal option.

Everything is about twice as expensive as you'd expect.

If you're a spirits-drinking male consultant between 24-35, you'll love this place.

Guess what I am not.

8/4/2015

This had been on my list of places to try, and I was a bit disappointed with my meal. I went for brunch and ordered the french toast. It was topped with blueberries and a delicious lemony glaze, but the "french toast" was really just really thick bread. I'm not sure they did anything at all to it to make it french. If that bread came anywhere near being dipped in egg and grilled, then the cook should be placed in timeout. My bf got the chicken biscuit, which was much better, but the portion was quite small. I can say that the bacon and mimosa were good, but I certainly wouldn't return just for either of those. I'm willing to give The Publican one more try, but it would have to be for dinner. By Chicago standards, brunch failed.